Alien, the 1979 sci-fi horror blockbuster directed by Ridley Scott, celebrates its 45th anniversary with a surprising re-entry into the box office charts. The film, known for its influential and acclaimed status within the sci-fi and horror genres, has been re-released in a new 4K UHD remastering that has impressed audiences, holding up excellently compared to modern releases.
The re-release comes ahead of the highly anticipated sequel, Alien: Romulus, which aims to capture the franchise’s original practical effects and claustrophobic approach. Set between the events of the original Alien and its sequel Aliens, the new film hopes to recapture the lightning in a bottle that made the original films so successful.
In the box office charts, Alien enters the top 10 with Friday’s receipts placing it at #10 with $600,000. Dune: Part Two, another sci-fi sequel, is looking at around $2 million for the weekend with a return to IMAX screens. Zendaya’s sports-romance drama Challengers leads the weekend with $6.2 million, followed by Unsung Hero, Civil War, and Godzilla x Kong in the top positions.
The film landscape for the weekend is filled with a mix of genres, but notably, horror and monster movies are prevalent in the top 12 films. With five horror films making the cut, including Alien and The Mummy, audiences seem to be gravitating towards the genre, possibly as a way to escape from the stresses of the real world or work through fears vicariously.
The re-release of Alien coincides with a year of remasters and re-releases, with other iconic franchises like Spider-Man and The Mummy also returning to theaters. The upcoming summer movie season is set to kick off with The Fall Guy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, promising a slate of blockbuster releases in the coming months.
Overall, Alien’s return to the box office charts signals a resurgence of interest in horror films and classic franchises. As audiences continue to flock to theaters for both new releases and nostalgic favorites, the success of Alien’s re-release showcases the enduring appeal of this sci-fi horror classic.
